London Grand Prix: From Dream to Virtual Reality

As a preview of the upcoming Olympic Games that will put the capital of Perfidious Albion at the center of the world for a summer, the idea of organizing a Formula One Grand Prix in the heart of London, at the foot of the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben, is creating buzz: “The idea of an F1 race in London is something I have dreamed of for many years. It would be magnificent,” comments Bernie Ecclestone.

This dream, Santander, sponsor of McLaren, Ferrari, and notably, the British Grand Prix, has turned into a virtual reality, in partnership with the architecture firm Populous, which worked on the recent extension of the Silverstone circuit. The result is a 5.156-kilometer track with 14 turns, with the starting line located on the famous Mall. The London circuit features Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and the Admiralty Arch as backdrops, in a computer-generated video. At the presentation, invited fans even got to take a lap of the circuit in a simulator, driving the McLaren MP4-27 of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button: “Having been involved in the project and helped design the track, it feels as real as anywhere I’ve raced,” commented Lewis Hamilton. “Jenson and I worked in the simulator to provide useful feedback […], so it’s much more than a fanciful concept tossed around. The film that synthesizes this work is highly detailed and logistically feasible. I must say that it’s an absolutely epic track and would produce one of the most sensational and captivating Formula One races. If you add an event like this to the array of world-class events held in London, the city would deserve the title of ultimate sports metropolis.”

The teammate of the Stevenage native, Jenson Button, is himself impressed by the attention to detail provided by the circuit’s designers: « They have considered everything, including integrating the garage and hospitality around the trees, as if the city was custom-made to host this race. » Moreover, John Rhodes, an architect at Populous, assures that « no less than 27,000 trees » are involved in the project, but is pleased that « the race will have no impact on any of them ». And Lewis Hamilton adds: « There is even a transport plan to explain how spectators would arrive and leave, where we would park our race trucks, how the pits would integrate into their environment. The concept is a source of inspiration but also stands out for its detail. […] The creativity and attention to detail is incredible. Every bump in the road is there, and we have mapped everything in our race simulator. When we say that the Ritz is negotiated in second gear at 65 km/h, we know it because we’ve done it in the most precise simulator there is. »

But for Jenson Button, the most sensational thing remains the setting: When you discover a new track, you need reference points – where you brake, where you steer – and it was a truly surreal experience with this circuit as you suddenly realize you’re in the streets of London, without the usual traffic. A landmark appears, and suddenly you think, “Oh, that’s the Palace of Westminster!” From a driver’s perspective, it’s really fun and, while in Melbourne we’re a bit on the outskirts of the city with Albert Park, and in Monaco, although we’re downtown, there simply aren’t as remarkable places as Big Ben or Buckingham Palace. And the 2009 World Champion added: There were times when, while sitting in the back of a taxi, I would think to myself, “That would make quite a good corner on a circuit.” If we ever have a Grand Prix in London, I think it will be spectacular and would solidify the city’s status as one of the most sporting capitals in the world.

The McLaren driver with number 3 is convinced that a Grand Prix in London would be a real popular success: « We did a demonstration on Regent Street a few years ago, and half a million people came: I remember the sight of thousands of people on the roofs and balconies on every floor of every building along the route. There is a huge enthusiasm for Formula One in Great Britain, and a city race would be at the center of everything, easily accessible by public transport. It would be a fantastic race for drivers and fans. All F1 drivers love circuits like Monaco. The preview of the London circuit is obviously quite different because the urban landscape here is much more open, the streets are wider, the space between buildings is larger, » explains Jenson Button, comparing it to the Marina Bay circuit, host of the Singapore Grand Prix. As for passing under the Admiralty Arch, the Frome native simply believes that « it’s a part of the circuit that must be seen to be believed » and that it « would certainly separate the men from the boys ».

For Lewis Hamilton, a victory on a street circuit, at home, would have a very special flavor, and he would definitely want to add it to his record: « As a child, I always wanted to win the Monaco Grand Prix, but the feelings you get from winning at home are something special. A Grand Prix in London could easily become just as iconic as Monaco. There’s so much history here: it would be a race I would want to win. »

But one thing is certain, a potential Grand Prix in London could not, in the eyes of the drivers, replace the British Grand Prix held at Silverstone: “I’d like to be greedy and have both,” says Lewis Hamilton. “Why not? Other countries have two races like Spain or Germany, and Britain undoubtedly makes a huge contribution to Formula One, so I have to admit it would be completely justified. Silverstone is more than just my home race; it’s a giant on the calendar, a true driver’s circuit. The idea of a race in London offers a completely different possibility and it would be a superb reward for our fans to have two home races, wouldn’t it?”

Jenson Button also agrees with his teammate: « Lewis and I are deeply aware of how integral Great Britain is to Formula One, whether through our knowledgeable and committed fans, or through the culture of technology and engineering that makes us one of the main sources of automotive innovation anywhere on the planet. Thanks to all this, Silverstone naturally celebrates Britain’s contribution to Formula One. It’s nice to add to this rich history the idea of a street race in London, and I agree with Lewis: it’s a very good virtual circuit for the drivers and is as appealing as the very real Silverstone circuit. »

Jenson Button makes things clear: « Let’s be clear! London is currently the center of global attention, and it’s an interesting time to theorize what a Grand Prix in London might look like. I think Santander has created a vision that is both inspiring and technically viable, based on a detailed and studied approach. But it’s just an idea, whereas Silverstone is very real and also very good. It truly remains the heart of Formula One in the United Kingdom and the stage for the best race of the season. »

However, there is only a step that separates fiction from reality, and the London municipality does not completely rule out the possibility of taking it if the opportunity arises: “I am always interested in projects that attract jobs and foster growth,” says the popular but controversial mayor of London, Boris Johnson. The conservative elected official adds, however, that it will be necessary to see if it is really a good thing economically for the city of London. The Briton also does not forget the concerns of his fellow citizens regarding the environment and tranquility: “I am generally positive as long as we can address noise and air quality issues.”

As for the chances of this virtual circuit one day becoming a reality, let’s not forget that in 2013 – or by 2014 at the latest –, Bernie Ecclestone was expected to see his dream of a Grand Prix in New York come true, so there is hope.